Police recover ₦8.25m ransom, arrest six kidnappers in FCT

Operatives of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command have arrested six suspected kidnappers and recovered ₦8.25 million allegedly paid as ransom for the release of an abducted woman in Abuja.

The suspects were apprehended by detectives from the Command’s Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) following an investigation into the victim’s abduction in the Maitama area on June 29.

According to security sources, the kidnappers initially demanded ₦20 million but later accepted ₦8.25 million before releasing the victim on July 3. Investigators used intelligence and digital tracking to trace the victim’s captivity to Kwan-Kwashe Village in neighbouring Niger State.

The suspects were arrested on July 5 in Suleja, Niger State. They were identified as Ifeoma Nnamchi, 35; Peter Rasheed Onwunumah, 40; Olanipekun Anuoluwa, 46; Jemimah Monday, 25; Gabriel Nnamchi, 14; and Stanley Nnamchi, 17.

Police also recovered the ₦8.25 million ransom, two vehicles—a Toyota Corolla and a Toyota Camry—a cutlass, seven pairs of AirPods, assorted jewellery believed to have been stolen from previous victims, five mobile phones and a laptop.

Preliminary investigations indicate that two of the suspects, Ifeoma Nnamchi and Olanipekun Anuoluwa, had previously been arrested over alleged kidnapping-related offences in 2022 and 2019, respectively.

The police believe the syndicate has been operating along the Kubwa Expressway, Maitama Federal Housing area and other parts of the FCT since 2024. Investigations are ongoing to identify other members of the network and possible links to previous kidnapping cases.